sleeper



(m) Model.) I E ssh'eecs-sht 1. G. T. SLEEPER 8v F. J. HUBBARD. METALLIC PACKING EOE PISTON AND'VALVE RODS. No. 334,480.

Patented Jan. 19,1886.

WITNESSES (no Mam.

No. 334,480. I

3 Sheets-Sheet 2. U. T. SLEEPER & P. J. HUBBARD. METALLIC PAGKING FOR PISTON AND VALVE RODS.

Patented Jan.'l9, 1886.

1 F i v I M H L (E, 1 he I,

l I I I l I N PETERS, Phato-Lilhognpher. Washinginn, as.

. I r 3 Sheds-Sheet 3. 0. T. SLEEPER .& E. J. HUBBARD. METALLIC PACKING FOR. PISTON AND VALVE RODS.

(N0. Modem No. 334,480. Patented Jam 19', 18.86.

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIC CHARLES T. SLEEPER AND FREDERICK J. HUBBARD, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNORS TO THE SLEEPER MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

METALLIC PACKING FOR PISTON AND VALVE- RODS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 334,480, dated January 19, 1886.

Application filed October 22, 1885. Serial No. 180,605. (N model.)

To all whom it may concern: Beit known that we, CHARLES T. SLEEPER and FREDERICK J. HUBBARD, of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and usefullmprovements in MetallicP-acking forPiston and Valve Rods; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

Our invention relates to an improvement in metallic packing for piston and valve rods and more especially relates to an improve ment in the metallic packing for which Letters Patent No. 300, 653 were granted to Charles T. Sleeper, J one 17, 1884.

The object of the invention is to prevent any leakage of steam between the metallic 2o packing and its seat, andto obviate any unequal or uneven pressure or wearof the metallic packing-rings on the piston or valve rod, due

to unequal expansion and contraction of the different kinds of metal or alloy of which the parts of the packing are made.

A further object is to retain the metallic packing in proper adjustment, so that it shall not wear unevenly by reason of its weight resting on the rod.

A further object is to provide for the selfadjustment of the packing in any direction, and thereby accommodate it to the different adjustments of the piston or valve rod.

A further object is to provide an improved 3 construction of metallic packing-rings, and

also other features of improvement, as will hereinafter be explained. a

With these ends in view our invention con sists in certain features of construction and combinations of parts, as will be hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is aplan view of the outer face of our improved packing. Fig. 2 is a similar view of the in- 5 ner face or side of the same. Fig. 3 is a view in elevation with the section b of the casing removed. Fig. 4 is asectional view. Fig. 5

is a detached view, in perspective,of the camring. Fig. 6 is a view in perspective of one of the metallic packing-sections. Fig. 7 is a plan view ofa ring made up of two sections,- and Fig. 8 is an edge view of one ofthe rings.-

A represents a box or casing, consisting of the two halves or sectionsa b,which are secured together by means of screws a, inserted in screw-threaded holes formed in the outwardly-projecting lugsa"; or the sections may be fastened together in any other manner desired. The inner periphery of the box or casing A is constructed with an annular 6o groove, B, in which'is locateda cam-ring, C, the latter being loosely fitted, so as to freely rotate therein. Cam-ring C may be provided on its inner periphery with any desired number of cams, c. In the drawings the ring is shown as being provided with five cam projections. The periphery of the cam-ring is provided with cogs or worm-teeth c, with which engages the worm c on the shaft cflwhich latter isjournaled in half-bearings formed in the projection D on the outer surface of the casing. Worm-shaft c is made square orof requisite shape at its outer end for the attachment of a wrench, so that by turning it the cam-ring may be rotated in either direction.

E represents the followers, each of which consists of an arc-shaped plate, d, having short arms d d projecting rearwardly therefrom, the arm d entering a groove, 01 formed in section bof the casing, and the arm (1, entering a groove, (1, in the section a.

Opposite each one of the cams c is located a follower, E. By rotating the cam-ring the cams a will engage the rear face of each one of the followers and simultaneously force all of them radially inward, for tightening the packing-ring, as will hereinafter appear. The metallic packing-ring is seated on a metal ring, e, which forms a seat or bearing, and is supported on the flange e of the bushing F. Packing-ring G is composed of four sections,

9, which are the counterpart of one another. Each section 9 consists of a segmental wearing portion, 9, made slightly less than one-half of a circle, so that a space, 9 will be formed between the adjacent ends of the sections, to admit of the contraction of the rings as worn, to

cause them to snugly lit the piston-rod. On the rear side of the wearing portion 9' of each section is formed a segmental plate or projection, 9 which is slightly less than double the width of the wearing portion (7, while it is less in length, so that when the sections are put together the rear plate or projections, 9 will form the outer periphery of the ring. A space, 9*, is formed between the adjacent ends of the rear plates, to permit of the contraction of the rings. Thus it will be observed that the four metallic sections when put together form a single metallic packing-ring, the inner periphery of which is composed of two sectional wearing-rings capable of expansion and contraction, while the outer periphery of the ring is composed of four segments, constructed and arranged to overlap the joints of the wearingsections, and forming broad bearings for the engagement of the yielding band which retains the sections in place. The segmental plates or portionsg on the rear side of the wearing portion g of each section are each provided with kerfs or slots (1*, which are preferably formed in the process of casting the sections, and are made of any desired depth or width. The obj eet of these kerfs is to weaken that portion of each section provided with the segmental plates or portions g to such an extent that it will bend when pressure is ap plied thereto as readily as the projecting ends of the wearing portions, and thus cause the wearing portions to bend uniformly throughout their entire length and snugly fit the piston-rod when the packing-ring is contracted in diameter. Yielding band H is made of two sections, it h, of spring metal, one section being arranged within the other to break joints, and the outer section having outwardly-projecting spurs h, which engage with one of the followers, to prevent the rotation of the band when in use. The yielding baud encircles the packing-ring and retains its sections against displacement, and enables the sectional packing-ring to be readily removed and replaced. The band also serves as a bearing for the followers in contracting the ring. Against the outer surface of the packing-ring is placed. a follower, I, which is constructed with a flange, t, that projects outwardly, enabling the follower to be grasped by the hand and readily removed. J represents a ring, which screws into the outer section of the box or casing and engages the follower I. By adjusting the ring I, which may be done by inserting a pin into any one of the holes j, formed in said ring J, it may be turned in either direction, and any desired pressure thereby exerted on the packing-ring. The screw-ring is constructed with a ratchet on its periphery, with which engages a pawl, j, pivoted to the box or casing, which serves to prevent the rotary displacement of the ring.

Another locking device may be used in lieu of the pawl and ratchet.

K is a face-plate,which is seated against the end of the stuffing-box cast on the cylinderhead or steam-chest, and is secured in place by means of the studs K, which are connected to the stuffing-box. Recesses K are formed in the outer surfaces of the face-plate,near its ends,for the reception of the angular bosses K on the studs. Face-plate K has cast thereon an annular flange, K, which enters the opening of the stut'fing-box,and thereby retains the face-plate in position. Around the flange K" is formed a seat, K, between which and the end of the stuffing-box is placed a suitable gasket for packing the joint steam tight. \Vithin the annular flange of the face-plate is placed a bushing, F, which prevents the rod from coming in contact with the iron of the faceplate, and also forms a seat for theringe, which is ground upon its face to forma steamtightjoint with the bushing, and also forms an inner bearing or scat forthemetallicpacking-ring. The inner section, a, of the box or casing is provided with arms L L, each of which is formed with an elongated slot, I, having formed thereon a ledge or seat, Z. Studs K on the stuifing-box project through the elongated slots Z, and, being slightly less in diameter than the width of the slots, the arms L L are allowed both lateral and vertical movement. Bosses K on the studs Kare received within recesses L in the face-plate, and serve to fasten the latter to the stul'fingbox. Over the projecting ends of the studs K are placed the washers M, which seat upon the ledges Z within the slotted arms. Spiral springs N encircle the studs and rest on the washers M. Against the outer ends of the spiral springs are placed the disks 0, through the perforations of which are inserted the screw-bolts P, which are screwed into the ends of the studs. By applying a wrench to the heads of the screw-bolts the disks O are forced snugly against the outer ends of the studs K, thereby compressing the spiral springs between the disks 0 and the washers M. The studs K project slightly beyond the outer surface of the arms L, thereby insuring a space between the disks and the arn1s,t0 allow of a limited movement of the latter and the box and easing toward and from the face-plate. As the springs are seated at their outer ends against the disks 0, which form a rigid bearing therefor, the tension of the springs will be exerted against the washers M and force the latter in snug frictional contact with their supporting-ledges in the slotted arms, and thereby tend to force the box or casing toward the face-plate. On the other hand, the box or casing is drawn away from the face-plate by means of the screw-ring J, owing to the fact that the latter has a bearing on the metal packing-ring, which is supported by the bushing in the faceplate; hence by screwing the ring into the box or casing the latter is drawn outwardly against the force of the spiral springs N, thereby maintaining the casing in suspension and retaining it in lateral and vertical adjustment by the frictional contact of the washers M on their supporting-ledges and the frictional contact of the ring Q on its seat, due to the pressure exerted on the metallic packing supported or seated on the ring. This feature of our improvement is important and valuable, for several reasons.

In metallic packings capable of lateral and vertical adjustment the construction of parts has been such that the weight of the packing rings and box or casing is supported by the piston-rod, the effectof which is to cause the metallic packing to wear unevenly, the upper sides thereof wearing away more rapidlythan their lower sides. In our improved construc tion we obviate this defect by supporting the self-adj usting box or casing, with its contained metallic packing, by the frictional contact of the washers M with their supporting-ledges in the slotted arms, and also the frictional contact of the ring 6 on its seat, caused by the tension of the spiral springs. The frictional contact of the parts described is not sufficient to prevent the free vertical and lateral adjustments of the box or casing, so that it may readily accommodate itself to the piston or valve rod and at all times be in alignment therewith, but is sufficient to support the weight of the box or casing, and thereby relieve the piston-rod itself and insure an even and uniform wear of the metallic packing. Again, we accomplish another important result by our improved yielding attachment of the box or casing to the faceplate.

In the use of this type of metallic packing it has been found impossible to preserve a steam-tight joint at all times between the inner face or rear face of the metallic packingring and its seat when the box or casing is secured to the face-plate, so as not to admit of any endwise movement thereof, owing to the fact that the coefficient of expansion and contraction of the alloy of which the packingring is composed differs quite materially from that of the metal of which the box or casing is formed. When the packingring is confined within a box or casing rigidly secured to the face-plate, and the adj usting nut turned down to set up the packing ring, the latter, when heated, will tend to expand to a greater degree than the cast metal of which the box or casing is made, and as no provision is made to allow of such unequal expansion the packing-ring will be compressed and contracted in its length, and when allowed to cool off will open a space between its inner or rear face and seat for the escape of steam.

By means of our improvement we obviate the defects and objectionable features above specified by the employment of the yielding connection between the face-plate and box or casing. The springs tend to force the box or casing toward the face-plate, while the screwring operates to draw the box or casing away from the face-plate in opposition to the power of the springs, and thus the box or casing is retained in a state of suspension by the screwring. WVhen the metallic packing ring expands, due to its becoming heated, the box or casing will yield outwardly from the faceplate against the tension of the springs N, and thereby accommodate the uneven expansion of the packing-rings, as compared with that of the box or casing, and allow the rings to expand longitudinally, or in the direction of the length of the box or casing, and thus prevent any compression or lengthwise contraction of the packing-ring, so that when the latter cools off, causing it to contract, the spring will take up for such contraction by drawing the box. or casing toward the face-plate, and preserve a steanrtightjoint betweenthepacking-ringand its seat. Thus by our improvement we insure an even and uniform pressure of the metallic packing ring on its piston or valve rod throughout the different range of heat and cold to which the metallic packing may be subjected.

The arc-shaped plates of the followers E are made of spring metal, to allow of their yielding, and thus insure a uniform and even pressure on the periphery of the packing-ring when pressure is applied thereto for contracting it and forcing it against the piston-rod. It will be observed that the followers are wholly inclosed within the box or casing, and hence we obviate the necessity for opening through the casing,and thereby prevent the ingress of dust to the packing.

While we have described the box or casing as being applied to a face-plate, we may in certain cases dispense with the face-plate described, and by inserting a suitable bushing in the stuffingbox, and dressing off the end of the latter and bushing, mount the box or casing directly on theend of the stuftingbox; hence when mention is made in the claimsj of a faceplate we would have it understood that by such term we include and cover the construction last specified as well. -i':

As it is evident that many slight changes in the construction and arrangement of the different parts of our improved metallic packing might be made without departing from the spirit or scope of our invention, we would have it understood that we do not limit or restrict ourselves to the particular features of construction and arrangement of parts shown; but

Having fully described our invent-ion, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a metallic packing, the combination, with a box or casing providedwith metallic packing. of devices for securing the box or casing to its face-plate and allowing the box to adjust itself toward and from said faceplate, substantially as set forth.

2. In a metallic packing, the combination, with a'box or casing and metallic packing located within said casing and supported on a seat or bearing connectedwith the face-plate, of yielding fastenings for connecting the box or casingto the face-plate, substantially as set with abox or casing, metallic packing located therein, and means connected with the box or casing for adjusting the packing, of devices for connecting the box or casing in a yielding manner to the cylinder or steam-chest, substantially as set forth.

4. In a metallic packing, the combination, with a box or casing containing metallic packing, of springs and adj usting-nuts for securing the box or casing to the face-plate and allowing it to yield both laterally and vertically, substantially as set forth.

5. In a metallic packing, the combination, with a box or casing containing metallic packing, of springs and adjusting-nuts for securing the box or casing to the face-plate, so as to allow said box or casing to he self-adjusting in a lateral, vertical, and forward and backward direction, substantially as set forth.

6. In a metallic packing, the combination, with a box or casing, a metallic packing contained therein and supported on a seat connected with the face-plate, and devices for imparting both radial and endwise adjustment to the metallic packing, of yielding devices for fastening the box or casing to the faceplate, and thereby allowing the box or casing to be self-adjustable in any direction, substantially as set forth.

7. In a metallic packing, the combination, with the studs connected with the cylinder or steam-chest, of a box or casing containing the metallic packing and provided with slotted arms for reception of said studs, and springs and adjusting-nuts for securing the box or casing in place in a yielding manner, substantially as set forth.

8. In a metallic packing, the combination, with the box or casing having slotted arms, of studs extending into said slotted arms, washers or plates resting on flanges in the slots, springs seated on the washers, and screwbolts, said parts being constructed and arranged to secure the box or casing to the face-plate, substantially as set forth.

9. The combination, with the studs on the stnffing-box and screw-bolts adapted to be screwed into the outer ends of the studs, of a box or casing provided with slotted arms adapted to receive said studs and springs interposed between the heads of the screw-bolts and the arms, substantially as set forth.

10. In a metallic packing, the combination, with the box or casing and a cam-ring located therein, of followers located wholly within the box or casing and adapted to be actuated by said cam-ring, substantially as set forth.

11. In a metallic packing, the combination, with a box or casing, metallic packing located therein, followers for contracting the ring, and devices forimparting simultaneous movement to the followers, of a screw-ring for imparting endwise adjustment to the packing and a pawl for locking the screwring against rotary displacement,substantially as set forth.

12. In a metallic packing, the combination, with a face-plate and a box or casing secured thereto, ot' a sectional metallic packing located within the box or casing, a screw-ring for holding the metallic packing in place, provided with ratchet-teeth, and a pawl engaging said teeth. substantially as set forth.

13. In a metallic packing, the combination, with the box 'or casing, metallic packing contained therein, and a screw-ring, ofa followerring provided with an outwardly-projecting flange, substantially as set forth.

14. In a metaliic packing, the combination, with the sectional metallic packing-ring, of a sectional yielding band provided with out weirdly-projecting spurs, substantially as set forth.

15. In a metallic packing, the combination, with the box or casing containing the sectional metallic packing-ring, of a faceplate provided with an annular flange adapted to enter the'outer end of the stuffing-box, substantially as set forth.

16. A metallic packing-ring composed of sections, each of which is constructed to overlap the Wearing portions of two adjacent sections, substantially as set forth.

17. A metallic packing-ring constructed of 95 sections, each of which is composed of a wearing portion and of a rear overlapping portion or plate, the latter being double or nearly double the width of the wearing portions, substantially as set forth.

18. A metallic packing-ring composed of sections having kerfs or slots formed in their outer sides.

19. In a metallic packing, the combination, with a laterally adjustable box or casing 1C5 having a metallic packing-ring located therein, of a screw-ring for forcing the packingring against its seat and drawing the box or casing away from the face-plate, substantially as set forth.

20. In a metallic packing, the combination, with a laterally-adjustable box or casing having metallic packing contained therein, of a screw-ring, and springs arranged to allow the packing-ring to be self-adjusting under va- 1 15 riations in temperature, and to retain it in place by the frictional contact with the adjacent parts, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof we have signed this specification in the presence of two subscrib- 12o ing witnesses.

CHARLES T. SLEEPER. FREDERICK J. HUBBARD. Witnesses:

JOSEPH EPSTEIN, FRANK BARTUNEK. 

